Marche-en-Famenne

Marche-en-Famenne
Municipality
City hall
Coat of arms
Marche-en-Famenne Location in Belgium
Location of Marche-en-Famenne in Luxembourg province
Coordinates: 50°13′N 05°20′E / 50.217°N 5.333°E / 50.217; 5.333Coordinates: 50°13′N 05°20′E / 50.217°N 5.333°E / 50.217; 5.333
Country	Belgium
Community	French Community
Region	Wallonia
Province	Luxembourg
Arrondissement	Marche-en-Famenne
Government
• Mayor	André Bouchat (CDH)
• Governing party/ies	CDH, MR
Area
• Total	121.40 km2 (46.87 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)
• Total	17,415
• Density	140/km2 (370/sq mi)
Postal codes	6900
Area codes	084
Website	www.marche.be

Marche-en-Famenne (Walloon: Måtche-el-Fåmene) is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. It is the unofficial capital of the Famenne region, sandwiched between the Condroz, former land of the Condrusi, to the north and the Ardennes to the south.

The Marche-en-Famenne municipality includes the former municipalities (sections) of Aye, Grimbiémont, Hargimont, Hollogne, Humain, Lignières, Marloie, On, Roy, Verdenne, and Waha.

In the early Middle Ages, Marche was just a little hamlet on the Marchette brook, one of the dependencies of the nearby Abbey of Stavelot. In the 12th century, this territory was made part of the County of La Roche. It was ideally located, on the main road between Namur and Luxembourg, and quickly evolved into a town, which obtained its charter in the 13th century. At the end of the century, in true medieval fashion, it acquired a complete system of defensive walls, with two gates, a series of watchtowers, and a keep. The market place and religious organizations, such as the Carmes convent founded in 1473, could thrive inside the closed city.